The neighbours also discussed Asian elephants, air and river pollution, carbon credits and green economy cooperation as officials called for data sharing and stronger regional coordination.
Bangladesh and India have agreed to hold the next meetings in Bangladesh under existing cooperation frameworks on Sundarbans biodiversity conservation and the protection of the Royal Bengal tiger, Bangladesh’s environment ministry said Monday(7 September).
The agreement came during a courtesy meeting between Bangladesh Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi at the minister’s office at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on September 7.
Environment State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam was also present at the meeting.
During the talks, both sides agreed that the next meeting of the joint working group under an existing memorandum of understanding between Bangladesh and India on conserving the biodiversity of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest shared by the two countries, would be held in Bangladesh.
They also agreed that the next bilateral meeting under the protocol signed between the two countries on conserving the Royal Bengal tiger would take place in Bangladesh.
The two sides decided, however, that the next meeting on the conservation of transboundary Asian elephants would be held in India.
The meeting also covered environmental and climate change cooperation, transboundary environmental problems, carbon credits, carbon emission reductions and the development of a green economy.
Mintoo said Bangladesh and India were close neighbours whose environmental and ecological interests were closely connected.
“Climate change, floods, droughts, river and water resource management, air pollution and biodiversity loss are not challenges confined within one country,” he said.
He said stronger mutual trust, sharing of data and experience and effective regional cooperation were needed to address such problems.
Mintoo said Bangladesh was interested in advancing a positive and constructive relationship with India based on mutual respect and shared interests.
He expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries in the environment and climate sectors would deepen in the coming days to ensure the welfare of their peoples and a sustainable future.
The minister said maintaining a balance between environmental protection and economic development was essential to ensure sustainable development.
In this regard, he said the exchange of technology, knowledge and successful experience among South Asian countries could play an important role.
State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam highlighted the importance of joint initiatives to conserve biodiversity and ecologically significant areas shared by Bangladesh and India, including the Sundarbans.
He said the Sundarbans was a shared natural asset of the two countries and served as an important protective barrier against climate change and natural disasters.
He said Bangladesh and India could further expand exchanges on research, technology and management experience to protect the Sundarbans ecosystem and wildlife.
The meeting also discussed transboundary air pollution and river pollution.
Both sides stressed the need for scientific data sharing, regular communication among relevant agencies and effective coordination to address such environmental problems.
Trivedi said there was scope to expand cooperation between the neighbouring countries by prioritising mutual interests and the welfare of their peoples.
He said Bangladesh and India had significant potential to work together on environmental protection, building climate resilience and sustainable development.
The Indian high commissioner also expressed his commitment to strengthening friendly relations between the peoples of Bangladesh and India and advancing cooperation in different areas of mutual interest.
Dr Fahmida Khanam, acting secretary of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was also present at the meeting.
